Do you have to continue your musical / vocal education to the highest...

[me, myself, and I]

...degree to be an opera singer? Okay so I previously asked this question in the "Singing" section but I only got 2 responses and I still haven't satisfied yet so I wanna ask again here. Hopefully I can get some good reply here.

I know that u have to go to college/university to study vocal/opera. But do you have to be on post-graduate degree to be an opera singer? Can't someone just have an undergraduate diploma and have a successful opera career? Or even doesn't have any music academic degree at all yet still able to become a famous opera star?

Coz I notice that most opera stars continue their vocal/musical education AT LEAST until post-graduate degree. Is it a necessary thing in order to get jobs in major opera houses/companies? Do those opera houses/companies pay significant attention to that sort of thing? Supposedly an opera singer, despite how talented he/she is, doesn't have a high music degree, will he/she experience difficulty/problems finding singing jobs in opera houses esp the major houses/companies?
I do know that singing opera is much more difficult than singing pop or any other genre so I do understand why opera singers must get a music/vocal education first before achieving a successful opera career.

But I’m just curious, do u really have to continue ur education waaayyyy... up, up, up and up until the highest degree? Can't someone have a successful opera career relying only on their undergraduate diploma? Does this mean that for all aspiring opera singers, in order to become successful opera singers in major opera houses/companies, they MUST be on post-graduate degree? Bcoz a post-graduate education could be very pricey and financially taxing, and it could take much much longer time before u're finally able to establish urself as a professional opera singer.

Are there any cases of famous opera stars who had never ever undergone any university education, or probably they just have their undergraduate diploma, yet they have a marvellously successful opera career?

[Sunshine29]

I was in the Lyric Opera Theater at the University, and I can tell you, it would be very wise to continue vocal education throughout, because competition is tough, and if you're not 125%, some noob fresh out of All-State choir can come snatch up your spot. Also, as with most things, age affects the voice differently. Women's voices can actually change in their early 20's. I went from a lyric soprano to a mezzo. >.< I was officially type-cast the villain in all future productions.
Good luck to you, and always always continue the vocal education and private instruction.

[gordios_thomas_icxc]

IF you want to be a GREAT opera singer, then you will simply start today doing EVERYTHING you can to achieve your dream.

IF you are looking for some sort of equation (X-years+Y-Courses=Opera Singer) then have fun frustrating yourself.

Above all, Opera singing is an ART, and ART defies concrete analysis.

There are WONDERFUL Opera singers who never set foot on a university campus.

You need at least six things to "learn" to sing opera:

1. A personal voice coach.

I seem to recall you posting before and saying something about taking lessons.

Obviously you didn't like the advice or answers given by your teacher, or you wouldn't be wasting your time asking for the opinions of strangers here.

IF you do not have a personal voice coach who you are willing to OBEY, then your dream is over before it ever started.

It sounds to me as if you are asking people to justify your distaste for YEARS of schooling.

Look at it this way: IF you don't have the talent, schools of higher education won't accept you for their advanced degree programs.

Instead of wondering how you can get around the need for higher education, you should be focusing on learning how to do MORE than your competition.

2. A foreign language coach. This may be your voice coach, or someone else recommended by her/him. In any case, they should be "on the same page" so that they don't contradict each other in your lessons.

3. Hours and hours and hours of listening to great opera recordings.

4. Regular attendance at "World Class" opera performances.

5. Piano lessons. This is the best way for you to learn your music theory and become your own accompanist.

6. DISCIPLINE: YOU are going to have to suck it up and simply do as much as you can every day to improve yourself.

IF you do all these things, and IF you have a natural gift and/or talent, then MAYBE you won't need a degree.

You can perform everywhere possible.

Those who direct your performances will let you know if they think you have more promise.